Learning Outcomes

* Outline the structures, operation and organisation of the public, private and voluntary sectors of the tourism industry;

* Explain patterns, characteristics and influences on the demand for tourism;

* Identify and explain tourist behaviour at destinations;

* Explain how tourism enterprises market their products and services;

* Identify opportunities and constraints faced by tourism providers;

* Outline policy and planning approaches relating to tourism.

Aims

This module is intended to provide students with a robust appreciation of the tourism system, serving as a primer for the study of the planning, development and management of tourism in future modules. This includes an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge they have developed in class by visiting a tourism destination, investigating its featers and interacting with relevant tourism operators, marketers, policy makers and tourists. At the end of the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the various components of the tourism system and how they interrelate to produce the tourism service-product.

Brief description

This module introduces students to the scope, structure and functioning of the tourism system at the local, national, international and global levels. By taking a system approach to the study of tourism, the module aims to provide students with an integrated and holistic understanding of tourism as an economic activity, along with the factors that influence its planning, development and management. By investigating the critical issues involved in the production and consumption of tourism, the module will help students to develop the knowledge and skills they will need to work in this increasingly significant industry sector. The module also includes a residential study tour, which is intended to integrate the core tourism subjects for the first year and to give students the opportunity to examine how tourism works in practice. A STUDY TOUR, FOR WHICH THERE WILL BE A COST TO STUDENTS, IS INCLUDED IN THIS MODULE.

Content

The module will be delivered through a series of lectures, three workshops and a short study tour. The lecture series will form the principal framework for teaching and learning. The topics to be covered include:

Elements of the tourism system, incorporating terminology and metrics

Tourism systems interrelationships and dynamics

Nature of the tourism product and its implications

Operation of the tourism industry sectors, including accommodation, attractions, destinations, intermediaries and transport

The study tour, which will take place towards the end of the semester, will be used to integrate the key tourism subjects for the first year and will enable students to apply their knowledge of the tourism system to a particular destination. This will be preceded by a series of three workshops, which will be used to help students prepare themselves for the tour by introducing them to the desitnatoon in question and the various elements of the tourism system located there.

Module Skills

Skills Type

Skills details

Application of Number

The coursework assignment will require students to collet, manipulate and analyse numerical data.

Communication

Both the written assignment and the examination will require students to express their understanding in writing. Both will require students to understand and follow instructions, and to produce clear, well structured responses.

Improving own Learning and Performance

Students will be encouraged to keep a learning log during the residential tour and these will be discussed during daily feedback sessions.

Information Technology

The coursework assignment will require students to locate and download data from the internet and to use electronic sources of information. This will be both quantitative and qualitative in nature.

Personal Development and Career planning

Problem solving

Not developed.

Research skills

Students will also be expected to undertake research in their own time towards completing their coursework assignment.

Subject Specific Skills

By conducting a systematic analysis of the tourism system, the module will provide students with the knowledge needed to work in tourism. The study tour is intended to help students to integrate the knowledge they have developed across all of the tourism modules they have taken in the first year.